In the realm of role-playing games, a recurring discussion often arises: is it preferable to inhabit a protagonist with a meticulously crafted history and distinct personality, or to forge your own hero (or antagonist) from the ground up? It’s a comparison frequently likened to apples and oranges, yet I’d argue there’s a definitive choice to be made. And frankly, apples clearly win.
Perhaps the matter isn’t quite as straightforward as I initially portrayed it. When I first contemplated inviting your opinions on this topic, my own preference felt unequivocal. I lean towards the ‘blank slate.’ As a long-time roleplayer, I appreciate RPGs that offer the expansive freedom and adaptability reminiscent of tabletop experiences, allowing me to sculpt my own adventurer rather than adopting a pre-established persona.
Such games typically excel in providing a wealth of role-playing avenues and character customization, often enhancing their replayability. Titles like Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale, Dragon Age (to a certain extent), Fallout, and Skyrim exemplify this approach. My decision seemed simple: blank slates are undeniably the ‘apples’ of the RPG world.
However, upon reflection regarding the RPGs that have most profoundly captured my imagination and whose narratives remain etched in my memory, I found an equally strong presence of games featuring more distinct, pre-defined protagonists. Mass Effect, The Witcher, Disco Elysium, and Planescape Torment all fall into this category, and I adore each one.
While these titles might offer less in terms of deep character build customization, they frequently compensate with exceptionally compelling narratives and rich, descriptive prose. Furthermore, playing these games doesn’t necessarily mean surrendering player agency. Geralt from The Witcher series, for instance, is arguably the most extensively characterized of this group, yet the games are renowned for their impactful moral dilemmas. While ‘my’ Geralt might share many traits with ‘your’ Geralt, the paths we navigate and the choices we make can lead to significantly divergent journeys.
This sense of player freedom within a defined character is even more evident in games like Disco Elysium and Planescape: Torment. Harry Du Bois and The Nameless One arrive with pre-existing backstories and connections, but from the moment players assume control, a vast degree of autonomy is granted. Navigating Disco Elysium as a staunch communist detective with an interest in the supernatural feels entirely distinct from a playthrough as a fascist, Judge Dredd-esque enforcer.
Am I, then, a fan of ‘oranges’ after all? This revelation has truly upended my perspective. Yet, consider Baldur’s Gate 3, arguably one of the finest RPGs ever crafted; it excels in so many ways and overflows with personality, even when players opt for a custom-made, blank-slate protagonist. Perhaps I’m not an ‘apple’ or ‘orange’ person, but rather a ‘fruit salad’ enthusiast, embracing the best of both worlds. It seems I might need to add a third option to this ongoing debate.
In any case, as I continue to grapple with my own evolving preferences, I encourage you to contemplate this question for yourselves. Feel free to share your stance in the comments section below, fostering a friendly and engaging discussion.